Redcar Bears promoter Brian Havelock is adamant that he is not thinking about pulling the plug on next season despite rumours to the contrary on social media.

Speedway’s often controversial insistence on limiting team strengths in order to even the sides up has left the SG Petch Bears boss with a rapidly reducing number of suitable names to supplement the six riders he has already signed.

The rumour mill went into overdrive following a fans’ forum at the Media Prima Arena on Thursday night but Havelock insists he has been misunderstood.

“I will find someone,” Havelock stresses.

“There’s nothing been mentioned about not running - all I said was what the situation is at the moment - that under the present circumstances Redcar will be lucky if they can run in 2016.

“Someone has obviously jumped onto Twitter and Facebook and made something more of it - but they can say what they like - it didn’t come from my mouth.

“I will have a rider in place by the start of the season and all I said was that, at this moment in time, Redcar cannot put a team together.

“I’m still talking to two riders as we speak and any more talk of not running is just a rumour.”

Havelock claimed he had virtually sealed a deal to bring to Teesside Pole Lukasz Sowka, who had a brief spell with Wolverhampton in 2012, but the deal fell through within 24 hours when it became apparent he had inadequate equipment.

Other more established Elite League riders including twice former Swedish Champion Peter Karlsson and fellow veteran Adam Skornicki (both former South Tees Silver Helmet winners at Redcar) are known to have been sought but Havelock explained: “I spoke to Skornicki but he has a good job as a team manager in Poland so wasn’t interested in coming back to England to ride for us.

“Karlsson didn’t want to race on Thursday’s and, at 46, I could understand if he didn’t want to do that many meetings.”

Dane Nicklas Porsing was also approached before opting to sign for Premier League rivals Peterborough.

And a stalemate still exists between the Bears and Newcastle over transfer listed former Czech Matej Kus.

“I don’t want to sell him - I asked him to come back - but it was him who put in the transfer request,” said Havelock.

Newcastle have so far failed to get near Redcar’s asking price and the matter looks likely to go to arbitration in early March with Bears season due to begin with Tweed-Tees Trophy match against Berwick on the 24th.